Founded in 2011 with a bold vision to back young people to change the world, Inspiring Stories has become an intergenerational movement for impact. Over the past decade, the team have built an impressive track record of programmes and partnerships with a 15,000-strong tribe of alumni and supporters; provided more than $100,000 in awards and seed funding for young purpose-driven changemakers and entrepreneurs; supported 180+ community projects and ventures; and invested more than $2.5M into life-changing scholarship opportunities for young people.
Inspiring Stories is the organisation behind Aotearoa’s largest leadership, innovation and impact summit, Festival for the Future; The Impact Awards – celebrating remarkable young New Zealanders making a difference for our future with $30,000 in prizes across six award categories – climate, enterprise, inclusion, wellbeing, local and global impact; and the Impact Challenge.
The Impact Challenge is a nationwide, free and accessible programme that backs youth-led climate action in local communities. Through this programme, young people are provided with micro-grants, workshops, inspirational speakers, mentoring and resources to help them bring their communities together to pilot solutions for climate justice and community resilience.
Inspiring Stories’ goal is to back the young leaders of today to make a difference to tomorrow’s world. The support from the generous folk at One Percent Collective helps us do just that by increasing access for more young people to take part in The Impact Challenge and receive scholarship support to attend Festival for the Future.
“For me, the Impact Challenge was an open door to educate and raise awareness about the impacts of climate change… I think that’s what made me enjoy the Impact Challenge a lot - to see more minds merge and create better solutions.” - Ioanna Corrie, Mahurangi College
“Getting a scholarship to the Festival completely changed my life and how I view my future. I met some of the most incredible people who have become life-long friends.” - Milly Petrie, Hastings
